Don’t worry. I am not going to make a habit of posting press relases. It is not my thing. However every now and then one comes across my desk that I believe deserves the attention of myself and my readers. Especially those of us with children.

The Evenflo Company, Inc. announces that all car and booster seats they manufacture for sale in Canada are in compliance with the latest updates to the Motor Vehicle Restraint Systems and Booster Seats Safety Regulations. The regulations were rewritten to align more closely with U.S. guidelines and incorporate new and unique testing requirements, including use of 3-point seat belts, increased maximum allowable weight limits for child and infant seats, and dynamic booster seat testing. The deadline for compliance by car seat manufacturers was December 31, 2011. All Evenflo seats will bear the National Safety Mark indicating that they meet Canada’s highest testing standards.

Evenflo makes safety so simple with innovative and easy-to-use safety features, including the exclusive SureLATCH® technology and Infinite Slide Harness™. These, along with other safety features, align with the new Canadian regulations to ensure maximum safety and an accurate, secure fit for children riding in motor vehicles. SureLATCH – an exclusive Evenflo innovation consisting of two connectors for use with a vehicle’s LATCH system –allows parents to simply “click, click, push” for a super-fast, super-snug installation in less than 60 seconds. The Infinite Slide Harness allows parents to easily slide the straps and chest clip for an accurate fit, every time; no rethreading necessary. In Canada, SureLATCH is available on Momentum 65 DLX, Symphony LX and Symphony e3 models. The Infinite Slide Harness can be found on Momentum 65 LX, Momentum 65 DLX, Symphony LX, Symphony e3 and Triumph 65 car seats.

“Evenflo is committed to delivering the highest level of safety to all of our customers,” says Rob Conley, President of Evenflo. “We are proud to announce that all of our car and booster seats are in compliance with Canada’s newest regulations and meet the deadline. Parents can be assured that Evenflo car seats, including those purchased prior to the change in regulations, are safe.”

According to Transport Canada over the past two decades, the average size of children has increased, but the safety standards for child seats in motor vehicles have not kept pace. The changes to the Motor Vehicle Restraint Systems and Booster Seats Safety Regulations will update these standards to better align with Canadian requirements and testing procedures with those recently adopted in the United States. Regulation changes include the following:

New testing requirement using 3-point seat belt to secure car seats in vehicles

Changes to child seats’ dynamic testing to adopt most of the U.S. testing parameters, including using the U.S. acceleration corridor and their performance criteria

Increase in the maximum allowable weight limit of an occupant in an infant seat (CMVSS 213.1) from 9 kg to 10 kg and adding the developmental guideline of walking unassisted

Increase in the maximum allowable weight limit of an occupant in a child seat from 22 kg to 30 kg

Introduction of dynamic testing requirements for booster seats

Allowance of harnesses to be used on school buses for special needs children

Parents should be aware of the new guidelines for child seats, and ensure that their child’s seat is not only appropriate for his or her size, but that it is installed and used properly. As confirmed by Transport Canada, there is no need for parents to replace a child seat as a result of the new standards. However, a child seat should be replaced if it was installed in a vehicle involved in a collision; if the shell or material on the seat has been ripped or damaged; and if the seat has reached its expiration date. To learn more about the update to the Motor Vehicle Restraint Systems and Booster Seats Safety Regulations, visit the Transport Canada’s Keep Kids Safe Web page at:http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/roadsafety/safedrivers-childsafety-faq-1131.htm.